Month: October 2017

In the past few weeks, I’ve had to take one short trip after the other, and while I enjoy the adventure (people-watching, sight-seeing, exposure to different culture, and trying out new cuisines) that typically comes with traveling, packing (and especially unpacking), for a trip can be overwhelming.

Thankfully, with special credits to my mum, I now have what I call my “READY-TO-TRAVEL LIST.”

And in this post, I’ll be sharing with you how I organize the list, some of my travel bag’s contents and general tips in making your trip more comfortable.

In my opinion, it’s better to be over-prepared for a trip than to be under prepared for it.

PS: This post is not intended for those who love to travel really light. I’m a “comfort-first” type of traveler so I like to travel with as many necessities as possible, plus a few extras.

And by the way, I will focus more on the female traveler but guys can pick up some useful tips as well.

Enjoy!

***

FIRST THINGS FIRST.

1. The Occasion for your trip:

Simple enough right? but forgetting to pack one or two very important items is easier than you think.

For instance, you don’t want to leave behind any of your credentials or forget to pick out a formal attire while traveling for an interview.

The reason for your trip should determine a good percentage of the contents of your luggage.

2. The Duration of your trip:

How long will the entire trip last? A few days, a week or more?

This will help you with simple logistics like how much cash you need to hold for your upkeep, to the number of clothes and toiletries you should take along.

3. The Mode of Transportation:

It’s also important to consider whether you’ll be traveling by car, bus, train, plane or boat, if it’s by public or private means, and if you’re traveling alone, or in a group, with friends/family or strangers.

Knowing the details of how you’ll get to where you are going, helps you to plan what size/number of luggages to carry and how to secure them.

If you’re traveling by plane for instance, you know that carrying extra luggage will cost you an arm and a leg, plus some contents (eg over 100ml of liquid/gel products) may be confiscated as carry-on luggage.

4. The type of Luggage:

You need to also determine the type of luggage that will be efficient (in terms of size) and also convenient (in terms of carriage) for your trip.

For a short trip you can use any (or more) of the following: A handbag, a back pack, a small traveling (duffel) bag, or a suitcase.

5. The Destination:

Where you are going will also determine to some extent, what you should put in your luggage.

For instance, If you are going on a vacation to a temperate climate like Europe, you need to go with coats, mufflers and solid boots. If on the other hand, your destination is a warm climate (e.g. Barbados), you will need sunglasses, hats, and some cozy slippers.

Also where you’ll be staying (whether at a hotel, a friend’s house, a hostel, or with distant relatives) will determine some of the items to take along.

The last time I went for a camp meeting, I had to go with my own everything (from bed-sheet to toothpaste), but that wasn’t the case when I spent a few days in Lagos, because my sister had most of the items already.

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR TRAVEL-LIST:

The rule of thumb is to have a list ready, before you put the first item into your traveling bag or box. That’s the only guarantee that you don’t leave something remotely important behind.

I typically organize my list into three categories:

i. Toiletries

This includes your personal care products like toothbrush/toothpaste, soap/sponge (and a soap case if you like), body lotion, roll-on, body-spray/perfume*.

*if you’re going on a really short trip, you can even spray your clothes in advance instead. I do that a lot.

ii. Clothing/Foot wears

– Night gown/Pajamas, Wrapper, Handkerchiefs

– Bathroom slippers, Sandals/Flats/Heels as needed*

– Underwear (Bras, Pants, Shorts) multiplied by the number of days you’ll spend. It’s always good to pack an extra or two, just in case you stay an extra night.

– Attires: Everything you’ll wear especially for the main occasion of your trip eg Casual wears for a picnic, Traditional outfit for a wedding ceremony etc

*I like to be as specific as possible, so I write out the details of each footwear eg Nude flats, Black heels etc

iii. Essentials

– Sufficient cash/ATM card: Trust me, you don’t want to be stranded on an out-of-town trip😂

– Make-up (Powder, lipstick, gloss etc)

– Face wipes, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, hand tissue, lip balm etc

– Accessories (Wrist-watch, jewelry, handbags etc)

– Gadgets (Power bank, phone chargers, iPod, headphones etc)*

– Snacks/Drinks (Chococolate, Plantain chips, Biscuits, Gala are easy to chew without getting messy). It’s more cost effective to buy the items before your trip. A bottle of water and pack of chewing gum are “must-haves” for my road trips.

At a quarter to 30, with most of my contemporaries already married, about to marry, or with one or more kids to care for, here I am in my parents’ house, boasting of being the deputy administrator of household affairs, a title that exists only in my imagination.

Over time, I’ve realized that my most profound moments from medical school had little to do with the “books” but everything to do with the “lives” especially of the patients I encountered on the ward.

Today’s post is from an experience I had as a medical student rotating on the pediatric ward.

Enjoy!

I walked into the ward that morning and noticed most of the staff were speaking in hushed tones.
Ward round went on as usual, but everyone seemed a little reserved. Soon, the cat was let out of the bag- one of our patients had passed on!

I was stunned.

Such a young, peaceful and innocent-looking boy, not more than eleven. He had been on the ward for sometime and because his diagnosis wasn’t straight forward, we kept running series of tests.

Then the doctor decided to place him on some steroids and his symptoms seemed to improve, so he was discharged.
However, he soon began to deteriorate rapidly that he had to be re-admitted, eventually leading to his demise.

It was particularly sad for me because that was the first patient I knew as a medical student that passed on.

I remember the day he asked me to pass him a bottle of water from his bedside cabinet. “Miss, Miss…” was how he began his request. After passing him the water, I watched him for a few moments before going back to what I was doing.

If only I knew that was the last time I would be able to interact with him,

Maybe I would have held one of his hands, looked into his eyes and told him not to be afraid.

Maybe I would have sang him a song, written him a poem, or read him a book.

Maybe I would have asked him to tell me about his family, his friends at school, and all of his favorite things.

Maybe I would have assured him that despite his pain, there was a Father in heaven who cared so much about him- spirit, soul and body.

Maybe I would have just taken a few minutes right there, to say a word of prayer for him.

If only I knew…

But I didn’t.

Because I wasn’t expecting him to die, at least not that soon.

Weak and wasted as he was, we still held on to the hope that he would live.

But death gave no notice of its intentions, it came and left without restrictions.

Three years later, my heart still bleeds when I remember the incident-though I didn’t shed a single tear at that time.

The rest of my sojourn through medical school came with its own heartaches as several other patients I met passed away, but I still can’t get that very first experience out of my head.

As a closing thought, it’s funny how we take the little things for granted, especially with the people that matter to us the most thinking they will always be around.

Truth is, when it comes to those we care about, death is always too soon.

The good news for the believer though, is that death is not the end, there is life after death.

And that for me, is such a comforting thought.

***

So when was the first time you saw a patient die? And how did you react to it?

During my undergraduate days, I had a classmate who often requested for my “jotter” a few days to our exams. According to him, I knew how to summarize and simplify my notes in such a way that anyone reading would understand. And I believe he had a point.

The first I heard of a learning model was from a friend, a couple of years back. He enlightened me on the difference between VISUAL and AURAL learners, and encouraged me to apply that to how I studied. Unfortunately, I didn’t give it much attention at that time.

Many years later, I would come across the V.A.R.K model of learning and found it quite enlightening.

In any classroom setting, from elementary level to postgraduate level, students receive, retain and retrieve information in different ways. And I believe medical students especially, would benefit from knowing how the learning models work since there’s so much to cover and so little time.

According to the VARK model, there are four types of learners:

1. VISUAL Learners.

I call them “The Scanners.”

These are the model students, especially in a traditional school setting. They don’t just read to comprehend, but seem to possess the so-called “Photographic Memory” and can reproduce the pages of their lecture notes or textbooks, word for word (sometimes with particular page numbers, no kidding!).

They enjoy studying long and hard, retaining most of the information they come across. They especially do well with Charts, Graphs andother Pictorial aids.

One morning while in medical school, we were having a discussion on the ward, and one of my colleagues was asked a question. When he started talking, it was as though an encyclopedia had been opened inside his brain. He just kept stating all the facts and figures while the rest of us gaped…lol.
Afterwards, our consultant looked at him and smiled, stating that he had a photographic memory and she knew he could actually picture the things he was saying. Needless to say, that colleague of mine was one of the smartest students in medical school.

2. AURAL Learners.

Aural learners are also known as AUDIO learners but I prefer to call them “The Crammers.”

These are the students who simply pay attention during classes (with/without taking notes) and retain most of the information long afterwards. Some simply “Memorize and Recite” (i.e. CRAM) their notes and they are good to go.
Unlike the VISUAL learners, they don’t really need to study for long, although having group discussions are of great benefit. Still, a lot of them do well with last minute studying.

I had a roommate who would memorize several pages of her notes on the morning of an exam, and her results usually came out so well.
Another friend of mine who is now a doctor, said she only needed to attend (and listen well) in class, and without further reading, she would be able to sit for any exam. When I heard that, my respect for her grew by several inches…haha.

If I’m being honest I doze off or day-dream during classes more times than I’d like to admit. Long lectures are like music to my ears, and I often start drifting off before I catch myself.

3. READ & WRITE Learners.

I call them “The Stenographers.”

This kind of learners love to copy everything that is said during a lecture. They afterwards go home to “READ and DIGEST” their notes, often breaking the notes into simpler and condensed versions to understand them better.

Such learners also appreciate Highlights, Mnemonics, Power Points and Summaries. Their goal is to be able to comprehend the material in its simplest form.

I happen to belong to this category of learners. I’m a COPIER by default and the only way I remember things (from class and especially in church) is by taking down notes. Even when there’s nothing to write, I doodle in my notebook, else my mind wanders off.

I remember one time a lecturer gave an impromptu test, immediately after his lecture, and I barely passed though I was sitting right there in the class. The reason was simple, I did not have enough time to “process” the information he had given before the test. In such scenarios, I rely more on residual knowledge.

For me, reading, then writing down notes, enhances comprehension. And if I’m reading something I don’t understand, I try to look it up, otherwise, I skip it.

4. KINESTHETIC Learners

I call them “The Demonstrators.”

When it comes to learning, they are more practical than theoretically-inclined. These are the so-called Hands-on-Students.

In medical school they find most lectures boring, but rush off to dissect every cadaver that comes into the anatomy lab. When they start their clerkships, they can’t wait to examine every patient, set lines and insert urinary catheters. Ask them to state the differentials for a neck swelling and they draw a blank, but ask them to scrub in for a Thyroidectomy and they jump right in!

***
What about HYBRIDS?

I believe most students learn by a combination of two or more of the learning models.

Personally, I learn the most by Association i.e. connecting multiple dots together. So it’s a little bit of what I see, what I hear and most of what I read. I’m not much of a hands-on-learner though. And it usually takes me twice the time my contemporaries take to learn a skill, whether it’s cooking Jollofrice or inserting a Urinary catheter! 😂

It’s a few days into October already and all I can say is, God is good!

While meditating on what theme this month would be about, one word that stood out in my heart, was COURAGE. And I believe God was giving me a gentle reminder, that when everything else fails (my plans and what-not), I can look up to him and remain courageous.

the admirable quality of being able to confront frightening things. It takes bravery for a knight to battle a dragon, but it also takes bravery for a shy child to walk into a new classroom.
(Vocabulary.com)

It’s little wonder that the song in my heart for this season just happens to be:

||WORSHIP– You make me brave (Amanda Cook)

And it’s one of my favorite songs ever! I remember having it on repeat for sometime last year.

||WORD– Lamentations 3:22-24 GNB

“The LORD ‘s unfailing love and mercy still continue, Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The LORD is all I have, and so I put my hope in him.”

I especially love the line that reads,
Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. How reassuring that is!

I still don’t know all God has in stock for me this season but I’m stepping out of the shadows of fear, discouragement and doubts and embracing his promises by faith.

And Amen to that!
***
In a nutshell, here’s what I’ve been upto:

|| My Ankara crafts and designs exhibition (As Promised)

My trainer, Niyot of Beracah House of Fashion, who is also a longtime friend did such a great job and I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn through her. Moving forward, I think I’ll be focusing on the Ankara book covers and see what designs I can come up with.

|| Still Learning:

Spanish and Igbo!

|| Recent Reads:

– Anthills of the Savannah (Chinua Achebe)
This was my first time reading any Chinua Achebe’s book. I’d attempted “There was a Country” earlier this year but found it difficult to continue with it. Not too long ago, I picked up this title, but I wasn’t enjoying the plot, so I dropped it. Eventually, one bored evening I summoned up courage and jumpstarted it (i.e. started reading right from the middle) and I was so intrigued that I read until the end. I found the book compelling, thought-provoking and with a melodramatic ending.

– I heard that song before (Mary Higgins Clark)
I totally loved this book (although I’m sure I’ve read it before but totally forgot the plot), the writer kept me guessing until the very end. It had the right amount of suspense that kept me glued till the last page. If you’re a fan of mystery/crime/suspense books, I totally recommend that you read this one.

– And then there were none (Agatha Christie)
I first read this book a couple of years ago, I had an idea about the plot but forgot how it ended, so I decided to read it again. So it was the Judge after all, what a twist!

|| Currently Reading:

– The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen R. Covey)

Principles and Values become more evident when we think of how short life is.

||Re-reading (For my Small Group Bible-study):

– UNSTOPPABLE (Christine Caine)

Some start for the gold but end up with the bronze. Some start for the gold but do a poor exchange and can not continue. Some start for the gold but drop the baton and are disqualified. Some start for the gold and not only win the race, but break a record doing so.

|| Recent Adventure: A Mini-vacay!

So yours sincerely took a few days off to spend in Lagos. Yaaaas!!!
You know how I feel about the city already (You can read about my previous experiences here and here). This time around though, I was not constrained by a lack of “cash” or “time” nor any urgent business to take care of. I wanted to not just pass through Lagos, but actually savor it all over like a first-timer.

The summary of my stay was: Sightseeing, Window-shopping (plus some micro-shopping…lol), People-watching, Reading novels, Eating and Sleeping. I eventually stayed more indoors than outdoors, and found it kinda boring, thanks to EKEDC…😑🙄

I went off to visit one of my friends (@Tyn) and enjoyed every moment of it. Also went on a date with my sister to watch the movie, FLATLINERS (a Sci-Fi/Medical Thriller/Horror combo). The plot wasn’t too bad, in my opinion. Definitely PG material.

Then I ran into one of my seniors from Unilorin, Eyitayo, at the Palms Mall (saw him last in 2010…haha), I started “gisting” my sis how he is such a prominent figure on FB, and a kind-of-social activist etc. He is someone I actually respect (from a distance) and it was an honor to see him again, howbeit for a few minutes.

Finally, I got to ride in an Uber, then a BRT bus for the first time ever and I enjoyed both (for different reasons). Lagos is such a lovely place tbh, I just don’t see myself living there. But who knows, ehn?😉

Enjoy the lovely views!
To wrap up the post, here are my

|| 9 Intriguing Lessons [plus 1 Life Changing Discovery] from 2017:

1. Social media is overrated. I know it sounds cliché, but I’m only beginning to understand that phrase. I’ve now realized that Facebook (which was the social media platform I used the most) is not that important. I used to think it was impossible for me to do without Facebook in a day until I actually put some structure to my social media time and now I have days when I completely forget to log in. It’s amazing isn’t it? Ever wondered what we all did before the advent of social media?

2. Not everything that is happening will continue to happen. “Time” and “Chance” happens to all men. If you’re a Nigerian living in Nigeria, have you ever wondered what happened to the likes of Mr. Biggs and Tantalizers? My sentiments exactly.

3. Time alone doesn’t make things better, deliberate actions do. Thanks to the Mother Hen (Remi Owadokun) for this. If something is bad and you do nothing about it, it will only get worse.

4. Forgiveness is not forgetfulness, but choosing not to remember. Choosing not to remember an offense is quite different from forgetting it, as if it never happened. I so needed that closure. Phew!

5. What you do is more important than what you know. We have many “knowers” but far too few “doers.” Memo to me. Noted!

6. To every stage in life, there is a backstage and to every scene there’s a behind-the-scene. Truth!

7. Others are different from you, and so are you from others. Our unity lies in our individual uniqueness and not in our uniformity (or conformity).